[Acute appendicitis in Crakow population]

In spite of decreasing morbidity, acute appendicitis (AA) is still found the most frequent cause of so called acute abdomen. This study presents the retrospective estimation of 1515 patients treated surgically in ten years period, admitted to hospital with the initial diagnosis of AA. In 1339 patients the initial diagnosis was confirmed during surgery. This group was divided into three subgroups: 1. Without perforation, 2. With perforation or abscess presence, 3. With diffuse peritonitis. In our study 60% of patients were male, however in the group aged over 70 we found the majority were females. The mean age was 16.7 years and in half of the cases patients were under 20. The incidence for Cracow population was 61.6 new cases in group of 100,000 inhabitants per one year (74.7 for males and 49.7 for females). The risk of appendix perforation or diffuse peritonitis was higher in extreme age groups. Mortality rate we found as 0.9%, but the risk of death was significantly higher in patients with advanced AA, or in the group over 70. Percentage of missed diagnoses was found as 11.6, and there was an advantage of female (female 19.2%, male 5.7%). Wound infection was dominant with the frequency rising along with the progression of AA.

1. The morbidity of AA in Cracow population in years 1989-1998, was 61.6/100,000/year on average and showed decreasing trend. 2. General mortality in AA remains at a stable and does not exceed 1%. It is most frequent in patients over 70 irrespectively of the form of AA.